 For those who were members of the former KearsargeConnects, you should have received an email from me this morning letting you know about the impending changes (which have now arrived!) and the differences between the old site and this new one. I will repeat the information below in the event you missed it (copied and pasted... so you didn't miss a thing!); but for those of you who may be discovering KearsargeConnects for the first time, the text on the various pages of the website should give you a good feel for what it's all about. In regards to changes... While the mission of KearsargeConnects remains the same... connecting local business with local lives in support of a sustainable local economy, some features of the website will be different. Below is an overview of the changes. What we still have: -Community Resource Listings -Local Business Directory -Local Online Advertising Opportunities -Community Bulletin Boards / Community Forums for: Job Postings / Help Wanted For Sale by Owner Real Estate for Sale or Rent Volunteer Opportunities Wanted For Rent Lost and Found General Community Discussion Skilled Trade Services Offered -Free Listings for Local Skilled Trade Professionals, Local Artists & Local Musicians -Increased online exposure via the features listed above What's different: -Website built using Google Sites, as opposed to Ning -Individual Profile Pages (personalized mini-websites) will no longer be available (no one was using them) -No longer have Facebook or Twitter Integration (as it was tied to Profile pages) -Community Calendar feature is not active. For the time being, events can be posted in the General Community Discussion Forum. -No Membership to the website is required, however you must be approved to post in the forums (instructions listed for each forum), and users must have (or create) a Google (G+, GMail, etc.) account to post, as the forum is set up using Google Groups. Approval is required to eliminate spammers. -Business Membership is now only $25/year (to be listed in the Business Directory) The new website is still is work in progress, so you may note it looks incomplete. It will continue to transform, and even when officially "done", it will continue to change with the needs and interest of the community. The site was created with a HUGE vision, and having a few years to get a feel for it's value within the community, the new site was created in an effort to meet the displayed interests of the community. Please note, the forum needs some input! It's like a Craigslist, but for our own region of the state. Please feel free (it IS free) to get it going by posting your skills, services, jobs, items for sale, items for wanted, lost and found, discussions, etc. And tell your friends! Someone once told me, "Build it and they will come." (oh, wait... that was Kevin Costner...) But you know what I mean. The platform is there to use. Go ahead and use it- and the more people that use it, the more your ads/posts will be seen by others. If you have any questions about the changes to KearsargeConnects.com after browsing the site, please do not hesitate to send me a note at kearsargeconnects@gmail.com. Thank you all for your support!! And please know that I am always open to suggestions on what might make the site a better resource for the community, so reach out any time. To Your Success, Samantha Cleveland |